SCE News Archive – 2007 – 2009

One Nazanin calling another on Iranian new year

Today on the first day of the Iranian news year, Nazanin Afshin-Jam spoke with Nazanin Fatehi and reported Nazanin to sound “extremely happy”. Nazanin Fatehi has registered at school and will start school after the Norooz, Iranian New Year Holidays. Her attorney, Mohmmad Mostafaei visited her and provided her with household items including a telephone and television for her new house. She sounded very much adjusted and happy to have her new found freedom. She said that sometimes her old inmates phone her and ask her what freedom feels like and want her to explain everything that is going on for the Persian New Year. They really miss her.

Nazanin said that she was told by Mr. Mostafi about Shadi Sadr’s imprisonment and she was very sad and concerned for Shadi. Nazanin Afshin-Jam gave her the news of Shadi Sadr’s release on bail and Nazanin Fatehi was very happy to hear that. (Both Nazanin Fatehi and her attorney Shadi Sadr have now experienced imprisonment and solitary confinment in the same prison (EVIN) and they both are free on bail!)

When asked about her her experiences in prison, Nazanin revealed that it was an extremely hard time for her in prison. She said most of the women were really nervous and stressed all the time. Most of them had lost hope and
were waiting to die. She said that when she first received the news of her execution she became out of control and broke a lamp in her prison. For this she was sent to solitary confinement for months. She said that while she was
in solitary confinement sometimes the guards would check up on her as the prisoners were supposed to be asleep by 10pm. Whenever they saw that Nazanin was still awake, the next morning they would take her to “hefazat”
(protection division) and they would beat her, sometimes with electric chains. She still has marks from this brutality. When she was in solitary confinement she said it was very cold and she had to sleep on the ground
sometimes with no blanket and so now she has back problems.

When Nazanin she was released from prison she had visited the law offices of Mr. Mostafaei and Shadi Sadr and she is now excited of the prospect of one day becoming a lawyer and fighting injustice. “With the strength and hope in her voice I believe it could happen.” Nazanin fshin-Jam said.

Thanks to joint efforts of so many people worldwide, this is the first time in a few years that Nazanin Fatehi spends the Iranian new year (first day of spring) with her family. Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Execution Campaign wish a happy and healthy Iranian New Year to Nazanin Fatehi and her family.